Diego Costa confusing short-term loan option back on the table — report

In a somewhat confusing turn of events, the Diego Costa loan option is apparently a possibility again, even though previous rumors have more or less settled on Costa being okay with not playing until January, which is when Atlético would be allowed to register him due to their current transfer ban.

Part of the reasoning behind that period of inactivity was a supposed FIFA rule that would prevent Atléti from signing and loaning out an unregistered player. But that’s exactly what Atléti have done with Vitolo (who will spend the first half of the season at Las Palmas after Atléti triggered his release clause at Sevilla), so ... yeah, the loan option is a possibility? Or somebody’s breaking the rules again!

According to La Repubblica (via Football España), the patsy willing to play the part are none other than AC Milan, whose interest in a short-term move for Costa doesn’t really make much sense considering that they’ve already signed the young and highly promising André Silva this summer and are reportedly very much in the running for another big splash with Andrea Belotti. Perhaps a Costa loan is seen as a fallback option should they fail to work out a deal for Belotti? Who knows.

As before, when this Milan loan was briefly rumored, the big hurdle of the transfer fee between Chelsea and Atlético remains. Recent rumors have put Chelsea’s demands at £44m (lower than the initial £50m!) but with no hint of Atlético willing to pay more than the £26m that Chelsea already rejected. Until this part can be worked out, the part about a loan is quite inconsequential.